Today's News

Jerusalem excepted
I still say the Middle East will be destroyed with the exception of Jerusalem, where God will set his kingdom up. I know also, the Bible says, “be kind to your enemies and I will heap coals of fire upon their head.”

Lost in the shuffle
I was at the Hillsville Town Council meeting when a nice lady had a problem that was supposed to be taken care of in April by the old council. Her councilman had not returned her call as he had promised to do. I can’t wait until next town election.

HILLSVILLE — Land-use assessment will go into effect, Hillsville Town Council members assured citizens Oct. 22 — just not as soon as everybody wanted.
Localities in Virginia are allowed to assess real estate based on the "use value" instead of fair market value. Use value is the productive potential of the land, according to the state’s definition. For example, a field that grows $200 worth of corn has a "use value" of $200.

Twin County localities have collectively voted for the national winner in presidential races 67 percent of the time in 13 elections since 1960.
While Carroll and Grayson counties and Galax have together agreed with the national winner at a rate of two-out of-three during that span, the three localities have had their differences.
Carroll County, for example, has voted for the Republican nominee in every presidential election since 1960. That partisanship led to Carroll voting for the national winner just seven out of 13 times.

WOODLAWN — Jeff Johnson has expanded his family of companies to include a different kind of vehicle.
“It is a little bit of a departure,” Johnson said. “You’re still talking about vehicles and a type of product that’s vehicle-related.”
Johnson Family RV, with its selection of Coachmen motorhomes and Keystone travel trailers, joins his two car dealerships nearby on U.S. 58, a business in which he recently celebrated his 20th anniversary.

Virginia State Police have charged a truck driver with involuntary manslaughter for actions that allegedly lead to the death of a Hillsville man on Oct. 30.
According to a state police report, Donald Ray Alexander, 44, of Houston, Texas, was driving north on Interstate 77 in Wythe County when he used a crossover that was for authorized vehicles only. He was trying to cross over to the southbound lanes in his flatbed tractor-trailer.

ENNICE, N.C. — The Galax Volunteer Fire Department responded to a fire at Poole’s Garage in the Glade Creek community of North Carolina on Oct. 31.
According to Galax Fire Chief David Hankley, an ignited gas tank caused the accidental blaze that ultimately led to heavy structural damage.

Members of the Veterans Memorial Committee recently visited North Carolina Granite in Mount Airy, N.C., to examine the progress of the fabrication of seven black monoliths for the Honor Circle of the Blue Ridge Veterans Memorial.
The memorial is under construction next to the Galax Public Library, and the Honor Circle is to be installed this week in advance of the dedication ceremony scheduled for Nov. 11, just before Veterans Day.